Man jailed over 11.6 kg of cannabis hidden in wheels at his Douglas workplace
John Houghton, 55, of Douglas, was jailed at Douglas Courthouse in June 2022 after agreeing to accept a package of 11.6 kg of cannabis hidden in four wheels at the haulage firm where he worked, police valuing it at £232,914. He admitted being concerned in the production of cannabis to the island and received 46 months, with automatic release at 23 months.
A 55-year-old Douglas man was jailed at Douglas Courthouse after agreeing to
take delivery of a package of cannabis hidden in wheels at the haulage firm
where he worked.[1]John Houghton, of Peel Road in Douglas, accepted the
package in exchange for £1,000, which he said he meant to spend repairing rust
patches on his car.[1]With his employer’s permission he had arranged for the
wheels to be shipped to Trade Distribution in Douglas on 24 May 2022.[1]Police dogs searching the haulage premises early on 1 June found the drugs in
four shrink-wrapped wheels addressed to Houghton, and he was arrested.[1]
Officers found 48 packages of cannabis totalling 11.6 kg inside the wheels,
which police valued at £232,914.[2]Houghton told police he knew the shipment
contained drugs but said he did not know what they were or what they were worth.[1]He pleaded guilty to being concerned in the production of cannabis to the
island.[1]
Deemster Graeme Cook called it an “appalling and disgraceful offence” but gave
Houghton full credit for his openness and frankness in admitting guilt.[2]The
judge said Houghton was fortunate that the load was only cannabis, because Class
A drugs would have brought a far higher sentence.[2]Cook sentenced him to 46
months in prison, with automatic release at 23 months; the BBC reported the term
as three years and ten months.[2]
Photos and video
The BBC Isle of Man Courts of Justice building in Douglas, used as the page's picture for the sentencing of John Houghton. Photo: BBCPhoto details
The BBC gives the sentence as three years and ten months, while Isle of Man Today reports 46 months in prison with automatic release at 23 months, the same term stated differently.
The BBC gives the cannabis value as an estimate of £232,000; Isle of Man Today gives £232,914.
The BBC calls the charge concern in the production of cannabis to the island while its picture caption refers to importing cannabis; Manx Radio later described the offence as concerned in the importation of cannabis.
Neither account states who shipped the package from outside the island or whether that person was identified.
The page picture shows the BBC Isle of Man Courts of Justice building rather than the drugs or the defendant, so the report carries no picture of the seizure itself.
Robert Proctor, 24, from Peel was jailed for 3 years and 11 months for being concerned in supplying cocaine, ketamine and 271.5g of cannabis between September 2023 and September 2024. Police found 3.2g and 15.9g of cannabis in two searches of his home, with phone messages revealing the wider supply.
Arrested 1Charged 1Cannabis 19.1 gPrison 3 years and 11 months
Kyle Murphy, 20, was jailed for seven years at Douglas for cocaine and cannabis supply offences after police found cannabis, THC sweets, psilocybin products and 117g of cocaine. Police said he ran a Flavour Chaser shop selling THC sweets and cannabis by the ounce from age 15 until November 2024.
Kyle Reece Wright, 25, was jailed for four years and eight months at Douglas Courthouse after police found 656 g of cannabis bush and 138 g of cannabis resin, along with ketamine, at a Douglas home he was staying at in October 2024. Phone messages showed he had supplied cannabis for about 10 months and directed others to sell for him.
Arrested 3Charged 1Cannabis 794 gPrison 4 years and 8 months
Jamie Smith, 38, was jailed for 20 years at Douglas for leading an Isle of Man organised crime group supplying cocaine and cannabis. He admitted cocaine importation and supply and cannabis supply between August 2022 and November 2023 after police bugged his Comis Hotel room.